A/N: About time I continued this eh? As Maddie said it's definitely taking time! Anyways here we are with chapter four. Hopefully I won't keep you waiting as long for chapter five!
"James we don't have to go to her you know that right?" Jesse whispered when she saw her friend hesitate at the mansion gates. James swallowed hard and turned to face her
"We have no where else to go Jess"
"We do not have to go here" Jesse replied a little angrily. Why was James trying to be noble and do the right thing by her all the time? She would much rather sleep rough than see him in pain but of course Jesse could not tell him this for fear of her real feelings towards her friend getting out.
James ignored his friends concern as they continued up the vast driveway along with the feelings of nausea that threatened to over come him. Jesse thought that his fear of coming back to the mansion was based on his hatred for the couple that were not his parents. James wished that was all it was. No there was something far worse to fear than that. Jessebell.
James broke out in a cold sweat just thinking of her. On the outside and to all she seemed like the perfect lady. Everything she did was perfectly correct and proper. Only James knew the truth. Jessebell was domineering, cruel and had made James' life a misery. She not only wanted to change him but to control him. James couldn't face that and had run away all those years ago. Now he was back and what if she was too? Was she still living in the mansion? James hadn't seen her the first time but what if Judith moved her in because she was lonely?
Still going to Judith was a much better option than to sleep rough. James glanced at Jesse and felt a pang of regret mixed with love for her. All her life she had the bad end of things. Her mother loved Jesse so much and she could not provide the life Jesse deserved. James loved Jesse too and knew that this was the only way. He wouldn't have her sleeping rough again even if it meant facing Jessebell again. James thought back to his last encounter with her. She had told him she would follow him to the ends of the earth and the bottom of the sea. James had to smile at this. So much for her promises. She had never even been off the estate!
They reached the front door and just as James was about to reach up and ring the bell it flew wide open.
"James I knew you'd come back!" Judith cried before ushering them all inside. James struggled as she got a grip on his arm pulling him into the luxurious front room. He glanced back at Jesse and Meowth for help but the butler was pulling them in the same direction.
"Have a seat" Judith more or less threw James down onto the sofa "Would you like anything to drink? Hopkins can make tea for us"
"No" James tried to protest as Jesse and Meowth were pushed down next to him.
"Hopkins, tea" Judith commanded.
"Yes Madam"
"I can't believe you came back to me" Judith cried happily "I was sure you had abandoned me"
James looked to Jesse for help as Judith continued to babble on happily about how great it was to have him back.
"Judith listen to me" James tried again.
"WILL YOUS SHUT UP!" Meowth yelled.
Judith stopped and stared in shock at the cat. James doubted anyone had spoken like that to her before. Taking the opportunity he quickly spoke.
"I didn't want to come here Judith. If I had another option I would not be sitting here believe me"
Judith frowned "Then why did you come?"
"Because we need money"
Jesse awaited Judith's reaction with baited breath. She had thought James would ask for a place to stay but asking her for money? Judith was as tight fisted as Giovanni. There was something else nagging Jesse too. Why did Judith not seem surprised that they were here? Sure she made a scene but it seemed forced somehow.
"How much?"
James shrugged "How much did Thomas leave me? You said before he did leave me something"
"I thought you didn't want our money?"
"I have no choice. Our Boss fired us without warning. I need the money to get us a place to stay"
"You can stay here," Judith said quickly
"I would rather get us our own place"
"Just stay for one night"
"No"
"Then I can't help you"
"I thought you loved me? Isn't that what you said in your letter?" James produced the rather crumpled letter confessing everything that Judith had done and threw it at her. "Is this as meaningless to you as I am then?"
"You misunderstand me" the shocked older woman was gone now and was replaced by the cold-hearted woman that Jesse had always known to be Judith Morgan. "All our money is in the bank at the moment. When Thomas died our account was frozen until the will was sorted out. When I explained to my lawyer that you weren't interested in your share it caused quite a problem James dear. You will have to come with me tomorrow to clear up this mess yourself"
"Can't we do it now?"
"James don't be silly. It is Sunday. Lawyers don't work on weekends."
"How can I trust you?"
"Because you have no choice. As you said yourself you wouldn't be here if you had another option. I'll get Hopkins to show you to your rooms"
At that moment the butler came back with the tea.
"There has been a change of plan Hopkins" Judith said sweetly "James and his friends will be staying tonight. Show the young lady to her room will you? I wish to talk to my son alone for a minute"
Hopkins nodded and gestured to Jesse to follow him. Meowth, feeling a little cross at being ignored decided to follow also.
Once they were alone James found the fear was starting to resurface. He had kept a brave face in front of Jesse and Meowth but now that was crumbling. James remembered every cold disapproving look Judith had given him when he was growing up. He had to ask. If he didn't they he would never get any sleep that night.
"Is Jessebell still here?"
Judith shook her head "After Growlie and that Pikachu attacked her she left and we haven't had contact since. Her parents informed me that she was in France the last time they heard from her. She's far away from here James I promise you"
James did feel a little better knowing there were miles of ocean between them.
"James" Judith started again, "I want us to put aside all this nastiness. Maybe we could start again?"
"You hurt me with those words. How can I just forget?"
"Because I am your mother"
"No you're not"
Judith had never thought words could hurt her until now and she was very shocked to find tears welling up in her eyes at this simple phrase. Seeing James brought back all those awful memories of the struggle she had to conceive only to loose Elizabeth again at birth. Years she and Thomas had been trying with no success. Judith had three miscarriages before Elizabeth and even though Dr Burkley had warned her that Elizabeth would most likely die at birth or be still born Judith had a feeling that everything would be all right. She had been wrong and Elizabeth was a stillborn.
Judith had hated Danielle for becoming pregnant the same time as she. Danielle's pregnancy had been an accident. She and Judith had been as close as servant and employer could get. Judith had confided in Danielle when Thomas got angry with her for not being able to provide him with an heir.
There had been two deaths the day the women gave birth. Judith felt guilty for all of James' life for stealing him away from Danielle. Danielle had been the closest thing Judith had to a friend. All the women at the social events she attended were superficial. They would be her friends as long as she had money, status and a husband. They didn't want to know now she was a widow.
"Danielle would have been proud of you" Judith didn't realise she had said this out loud until she heard James' reply.
"What was she like?"
"Like you. Danielle cared about the things in life that I thought didn't matter. She didn't want money to make her happy. She had everything she was always telling me. She had your father and she was pregnant. All she wanted was a family."
James didn't know what to say. He didn't want to say anything that might stop Judith from being open with him. That was all he really wanted from her.
"When your father died Danielle was devastated as you can imagine. She kept going though. I asked her once how she could cope. She told me it was because of you. Danielle told me it was a terrible thing for a child to grow up without its parents."
"Then she died"
Judith nodded, "When Thomas presented me with you and urged me to take you as my own I thought of what Danielle had said. How could I not take you in? Danielle would have wanted me to have you"
"Then why did you say those things about putting me in an orphanage if your own child had lived?"
"I don't know"
"Do you love me?"
"Of course I do" Judith wept.
Then she did something James never thought she would do. Judith got up from her seat and hugged him. James hugged her back feeling his own tears falling down his cheeks. That simple gesture meant the world to him. At last Judith pulled back feeling a little silly.
"Come on you should unpack your things and I have to get ready for dinner"
James wiped his eyes seeing the same old Judith he always knew before him once more.
"Thank you" he said as he left the room.
"Maybe we can talk some more about Danielle tomorrow?" Judith offered, "If you want to that is?"
"Maybe" James replied.
After he had gone Judith took a moment to compose herself before hurrying upstairs to change for dinner. She was about to curse herself for letting her emotions take hold of her when she realised all the good it had done. Maybe James would want to stay a little longer now she was willing to talk?
"Use vine whip" the figure hiding in the shadows of the mansion grounds commanded their Pokémon. It complied and soon they were holding the note left forgotten on the floor. The figure stayed in their position underneath the window and read it silently.
"Judith would hate for this to get out I am sure" the figure smirked. "And I have the proof to destroy her right in my hands. Perfect blackmail for getting what I want"
The figure sneaked away across the lawn. They would have to have a little talk with Judith tomorrow.